Multistrip Western blotting to increase quantitative data output

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Abstract
The qualitative and quantitative measurements of protein abundance and protein modification states are essential in understanding their role in diverse cellular processes. Traditional Western blotting technique, though sensitive, is prone to produce substantial errors and is not readily adapted to high‐throughput technologies. We propose a modified immunoblotting procedure, which is based on simultaneous transfer of proteins from multiple gel‐strips onto the same membrane, and is compatible with any conventional gel electrophoresis system. As a result, the data output per single blotting cycle can readily be increased up to ten‐fold. In contrast to the traditional “one protein detection per electrophoresis cycle”, this procedure allows simultaneous monitoring of up to nine different proteins. In addition to maintaining the ability to detect picogram quantities of protein, the modified system substantially improves data accuracy by reducing signal errors by two‐fold. Multistrip Western blotting procedure allows making statistically reliable side‐by‐side comparisons of different or repeated sets of data. Compared to the traditional methods, this approach provides a more economical, reproducible, and effective procedure, facilitating the generation of large amounts of high‐quality quantifiable data.